The Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) has been awarded $3.65 million from a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) to serve as a regional hub for Workforce Pell, helping colleges design, validate, and scale short-term workforce programs eligible for the new federal Workforce Pell Grants, until 2030.
The initiative will expand access to a new federal funding source for unemployed and underemployed adults while supporting employers’ urgent demand for skilled talent across Southeast Michigan.
“Federal financial aid access for individuals pursuing short-term workforce development training that provides a jumpstart into jobs with futures will be a game changer for many of our community members,” said Dr. Michael Balsamo, Dean of Business and IT, Macomb Community College. “WIN’s role as a regional collaboration hub will help facilitate accessing vital financial support, transforming the lives and futures community members while supporting local employers with the talent they need.”
Workforce Pell extends Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality, short-term training programs, allowing learners to use federal financial aid for programs lasting as little as 8 to 15 weeks. The WIN project will help colleges ensure their programs meet Workforce Pell eligibility requirements, opening the door to more affordable, faster pathways to employment.
“Workforce Pell is a revolutionary for adult learners and employers,” said Michele Economou Ureste, WIN Executive Director. “This grant positions WIN to continue serving as a trusted regional resource, helping colleges navigate eligibility requirements, ensuring programs are employer-validated, and expanding access to federal funding for people who need it most.”
WIN will provide convening, technical assistance, quality assurance, and coordination to assist partner colleges to:
- Align short-term education programs with Workforce Pell eligibility standards
- Integrate employer-validated competencies and assessments
- Document program quality, outcomes, and compliance
- Prepare programs to sustainably access Pell funding for short-term training
Participating partner colleges include Henry Ford College, Jackson College, Macomb Community College, Monroe County Community College, Oakland Community College, Schoolcraft College, and Washtenaw Community College, all of which will collaborate with WIN to design and scale Workforce Pell-eligible programs across the region.
“This grant provides yet another opportunity for the WIN partners to work collaboratively in expanding the availability of our training programs and further connecting these education pathways to in-demand careers,” said Peter Provenzano, Jr., Chancellor of Oakland Community College.
By centralizing expertise and tools, WIN will reduce the burden on individual institutions and accelerate the region’s ability to deliver Pell-eligible workforce programs at scale.
Many adult learners face financial barriers that prevent participation in training, especially short-term programs that historically have not qualified for federal aid. Workforce Pell creates a new, reliable funding source to help individuals:
- Upskill or reskill quickly
- Re-enter the workforce after job loss
- Advance into higher-wage, in-demand careers
The project is designed to prioritize access for unemployed and underemployed adults, helping them move more rapidly into employment while reducing out-of-pocket training costs.
Employer engagement is central to the initiative. WIN will coordinate regional employers across healthcare, advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, information technology, and other priority sectors to ensure programs reflect real hiring needs.
Through the WIN employer-led collaboratives, Michigan Alliance for Greater Mobility Advancement (MAGMA) and Health Career Alliance (HCA), employers will:
- Validate competencies and learning outcomes
- Inform curriculum and assessment design
- Support applied learning and work-based experiences
- Help ensure credentials are portable, relevant, and valued in the labor market
“This work ensures training programs are not only Pell-eligible, but employer-trusted,” said Dr. Janis Karazim, WIN Program Manager. “Learners gain skills that translate directly into jobs, and employers gain confidence in the talent pipeline.”
To remove traditional time and location barriers, programs will incorporate technology-enabled and applied learning, including:
- Simulation-based and virtual labs
- Hybrid and online instructional models
- Digital tools that support flexible scheduling and assessment
These approaches make education more accessible for working adults, caregivers, and individuals with transportation or geographic constraints, while maintaining program quality and rigor.
Beyond launching new programs, the project aims to build lasting capacity by embedding Workforce Pell readiness, employer engagement, and learning technology into institutional and regional practices. Tools and lessons learned will be shared to support long-term sustainability and scalability.
“This initiative is about building systems, not just programs,” said Greg Pitoniak, Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) Michigan Works! CEO. “By serving as a Workforce Pell hub, WIN is helping colleges, employers, and learners navigate a new opportunity that can transform access to workforce education.”
For additional information on the WIN Workforce Pell initiative, please click here.
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About Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN)
The Workforce Intelligence Network, a division on SEMCA Michigan Works!, is a nonprofit organization advancing workforce systems through data, strategy, and collaboration. WIN partners with employers, educators, workforce agencies, and policymakers to align education and training with regional labor market needs. For additional information, visit winintelligence.org.
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